Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will get their championship rings. LeBron James will try yet again to end Cleveland’s epic title drought. And barring a most unlikely change of heart, Kobe Bryant’s illustrious NBA career will end.
That’s just a smidge of what awaits next season.
Tim Duncan hasn’t said if he’ll retire or return to San Antonio, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan will hit the open market, Kevin Love’s future still is unclear despite his saying that he’ll stay with the Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade might be leaving Miami, and Rajon Rondo surely will move on from Dallas.
Plus, before free agency officially starts July 1, an intriguing draft awaits next week with Minnesota holding the No. 1 pick.
“I haven’t thought about next season,” James said early Wednesday after Golden State topped the Cavs in the NBA Finals clincher. “At all.”
He won’t be able to say that in a day or two. It doesn’t take long for the league to shift from Finals to frantic, and the NBA could have a very different look about a month from now.
Here’s a look at some of the story lines worth watching over the next few weeks:
THE CHAMPS
Every indication is that the Warriors could come back relatively intact to defend their title.
Draymond Green, he who only had a triple-double in the title clincher, will get attention from other teams, but the Warriors have the right to match any offers he takes seriously.
The Warriors aren’t anywhere near being an “old” team yet, might be able to free up some cap space in trades and have an absolute baby-faced assassin and league MVP in Curry.
THE CAVS
James can (and probably will) opt out of his contract. But it would be with different goals in mind than finding a new home; rather, he and his braintrust will try to find creative ways to both maximize money and the Cavs’ potential for winning.
Tristan Thompson’s contract talks will be interesting, and it’s likely Cleveland will need to give him a max deal or close to it to keep him. So then it’s all eyes on Love, who says he wants to stay. But questions exist about Love wanting to play in Los Angeles at some point, and if this is Bryant’s swan song then the Lakers would want to load up as much as they can for his final season.
Love’s shoulder injury and recovery add another thorn to his future as to whether other teams will take the risk.
Though it seems head coach David Blatt will be back, a potentially wild summer awaits in Cleveland.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Boston: Players around the league are enthralled with coach Brad Stevens, and the Celtics have dollars to spend.
Chicago: The Jimmy Butler situation will be interesting. If the Bulls lose him, they will have to make a reactive move.
Detroit: Stan Van Gundy made one of the boldest moves of the year when he waived Josh Smith. He’ll have the Pistons closer to the playoffs in his second season running the ship in Auburn Hills.
Miami: Pat Riley and Micky Arison won’t sit idle. Watching these playoffs hurt.
Milwaukee: Another team growing in a rapidly improving Eastern Conference. Young and with financial flexibility.
New Orleans: New coach in Alvin Gentry, best big man in the game in Anthony Davis.
San Antonio: Don’t sleep on the Spurs. They’re not done. There are no shortage of players who would want to play for Gregg Popovich and a gold-standard franchise.
Utah: One of the best young cores in the NBA, a certain team on the rise out West, and Quin Snyder may be a coaching star in the making.
